Head coach Gary Street makes 12 changes after opening win against Samoa but
Sarah Hunter says they want to step up the performance

Sarah Hunter insists England have the capability to take their Women’s World Cup campaign to a new level when they face Spain in their second pool match in Paris on Tuesday, despite the disruption caused by 12 changes to the side.

Hunter, the Lichfield flanker, is one of four players retained from the 65-3 victory over Samoa on Friday as England head coach Gary Street opts to rotate his 26-strong squad.

Hunter, who will captain the side, switches from No 8 to blindside, with Richmond’s Alexandra Matthews coming in for her first World Cup start, the day after celebrating her 21st birthday.

There is also a new front row of Claire Purdy, Victoria Fleetwood and Sophie Hemming, while Rebecca Essex and Marlie Packer make their first World Cup starts at lock and openside respectively.

La Toya Mason replaces Natasha Hunt at scrum-half while Ceri Large comes in at fly-half, with captain Katy McLean rested. Amber Reed and Claire Allan also form a new centre partnership. Despite the changes, England will still field a side with a combined total caps of 575 in the starting XV alone.

“Since we have been together in training camps since January, we have been constantly rotating combinations so that everyone is used to playing with each other and in different positions,” Hunter said.

“The fact that there are 12 changes including a positional one is not going to impact on us. We have had plenty of time since the game on Friday to practise the new combinations and the game plan.

“We want to build as we go through this competition and will want to take our game plan to Spain and play a high-tempo game against a physical side who will go through their forwards. We want to score four tries to get the bonus point and our defence will also be our priority.”

Spain opened their campaign with a 31-5 defeat by Canada on Friday and lost their last meeting with England 61-0 in 2012.

While England are expected to secure a second comfortable victory, Street said the Spanish should not be underestimated.

“Apart from a shaky 20 minutes against Canada in their opening World Cup game, I thought they played some excellent rugby,” he said.

“They have some strong ball-carrying forwards and some quick athletic backs from the sevens programme. After one defeat they are going to be fighting all out for a spot in the knockout stages.”

Wales will be aiming to get their tournament back on track after an opening-day defeat by hosts France when they take on Australia on Tuesday, while Ireland face tournament favourites and defending champions New Zealand.